‘Revamping of hospitals continues on fast track’

LAHORE

Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir has said that the medical superintendents are the custodian and team leaders of government hospitals who have to lead their doctors, nurses and paramedics staff for providing quality healthcare to the patients.

“The revamping of 40 DHQ and THQ hospitals is being carried out on fast track and within four months these hospitals would present a new look and different culture,” he said while addressing the monthly meeting of medical superintendents of 40 DHQ and THQ hospitals where the revamping plan is implemented, according to handout issued here on Saturday.

Kh Imran Nazir took serious notice of the incident in Gojra THQ Hospital in which doctors had mistakenly carried out eye operation of an elderly attendant instead of the patient. The minister directed the secretary concerned to hold an inquiry of the incident. He said that responsibility should be fixed and action taken against the doctor responsible.

He said that billions of rupees were being spent on the upgrade and revamp of the hospitals and provision of new equipment. During the meeting, instructions were given to the medical superintendents regarding patient safety, infection control and surveillance of operation theatres. It was informed that patient record tracking system would also be established in each hospital under the Health Information Management System.

Kh Imran Nazir appreciated the decision of bifurcation of Health Department by Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif and said both departments were working with more focused approach for the improvement of tertiary as well as primary and secondary health sector.

Health Secretary Ali Jan Khan informed that janitorial services, security, parking, horticulture, landscaping, plumbing, clinical and electric works services in 40 DHQ and THQ hospitals had been outsourced. He said the outlook of the hospitals was also being improved for making the hospital environment-friendly and pleasant to the visitors.

He said that all possible resources would be provided for improving the supply of electricity to the hospitals. He said that requirements of dual electricity supply and transformers would be met for which more than Rs 300 million had been allocated.